Water restrictions remain in place – metro
“We believe it should be in the DNA of our residents to conserve and preserve water."
Tshwane residents have been urged to continue saving water even though reservoir and dam levels were at “comfortable” levels.
The 14 dams which form part of the integrated Vaal River system are currently at 93.9% compared to the same period last year when levels stood at 100.2%.
Rand Water recently announced dam levels were dropping at an alarming rate though it was still winter, according to Tshwane MMC for utility services Abel Tau.
“As the metro, we never completely removed the restrictions Rand Water had put in place earlier this year,” Tau said.
“Restrictions were lowered to level two but remain there still.”
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Tau said Tshwane reservoirs were sitting at comfortable levels of about 80% capacity but population growth for the metro and climate change continued to put pressure on water supply.
“We believe it should be in the DNA of our residents to conserve and preserve water,” Tau said.
“As the metro continues to grow, more water is needed for residents.
“Abnormal temperatures also contribute to low dam and reservoirs levels.”
The growth would also mean finding clean drinking water would become more of a challenge.
Tau urged residents to water their gardens either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
“Gardens should not be watered at all during the day and residents need to use grey water to water their plants.”
Residents should shower instead of taking a bath and were urged to use a glass of water as opposed to a running tap to brush their teeth.
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Tau said while all areas of Tshwane were being affected, the high-lying areas such as Pretoria West and parts of Arcadia might be more heavily affected.
The Gauteng water and sanitation department has also called on residents to save water.
“Although the levels of dams in Gauteng are in a healthy state, there still is a need for water consumers to keep on reducing their water usage to a bare minimum,” it said in a statement.
“It is vitally important for water consumers to realise that they have a role to play in ensuring that dams do not deplete so as to threaten the water supply of the province.”
This week’s dams levels are as follows:
– Bon Accord Dam is at 101.8%,
– Bronkhorstspruit Dam at 86.7%,
– Rietvlei Dam at 99.7%,
– Roodeplaat Dam at 98.8,
– Klipdrift Dam at 101.8%.
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